<p>Activists staged a colourful protest in Tokyo on Sunday, calling on the Japanese parliament to approve an anti-discrimination bill protecting the rights of the country's LGBT community.</p>.<p>Led by drag queens and DJs blaring upbeat music, dozens of campaigners and supporters of the legislation wore rainbow-coloured masks and danced in front of the Japanese capital's famous Shibuya crossing.</p>.<p>The proposed law, which has been under discussion for years, appeared to gain traction after a group of lawyers began working on it in 2015.</p>.<p>But some members of the ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party rejected the bill last month, with a lawmaker reportedly saying that same-sex relationships threaten "the preservation of the species".</p>.<p>"I was really disappointed," a 20-year-old drag queen who gave her name as Okuni told AFP.</p>.<p>"I thought people who still think of us that way are controlling politics," she said.</p>.<p>Activists urged supporters to demand action from lawmakers to put the legislation back on their agenda.</p>.<p>"I thought we have to work harder (for equality), that is why we are here today. This means a lot, I think," Okuni said.</p>.<p>Rights activists have accused conservative politicians of violating the Olympic spirit as Tokyo prepares to host the Games this summer in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.</p>
<p>Activists staged a colourful protest in Tokyo on Sunday, calling on the Japanese parliament to approve an anti-discrimination bill protecting the rights of the country's LGBT community.</p>.<p>Led by drag queens and DJs blaring upbeat music, dozens of campaigners and supporters of the legislation wore rainbow-coloured masks and danced in front of the Japanese capital's famous Shibuya crossing.</p>.<p>The proposed law, which has been under discussion for years, appeared to gain traction after a group of lawyers began working on it in 2015.</p>.<p>But some members of the ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party rejected the bill last month, with a lawmaker reportedly saying that same-sex relationships threaten "the preservation of the species".</p>.<p>"I was really disappointed," a 20-year-old drag queen who gave her name as Okuni told AFP.</p>.<p>"I thought people who still think of us that way are controlling politics," she said.</p>.<p>Activists urged supporters to demand action from lawmakers to put the legislation back on their agenda.</p>.<p>"I thought we have to work harder (for equality), that is why we are here today. This means a lot, I think," Okuni said.</p>.<p>Rights activists have accused conservative politicians of violating the Olympic spirit as Tokyo prepares to host the Games this summer in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.</p>